Consider the following statements regarding criminal intimidation under Section 503 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: Statement 1: Criminal intimidation requires a threat of injury to the person's body, reputation, or property. Statement 2: The threat must be communicated with the intent to cause alarm or to cause the person to do or omit an act. Statement 3: A threat to cause injury to a person in whom the victim is interested (e.g., family member) does not constitute criminal intimidation. Statement 4: The threat must be of such a nature that a reasonable person would apprehend harm. Which statements are correct?

Solution

Section 503 of BNS, 2023 defines criminal intimidation as threatening another with injury to person, reputation, property, or to person/reputation of one in whom that person is interested, with intent to cause alarm or to cause acts/omissions. Statement 1 is correct—injury includes harm to body, reputation, or property. Statement 2 is correct—intent and communication are required. Statement 3 is incorrect—threatening injury to a family member (person in whom victim is interested) clearly falls within Section 503. Statement 4 is correct—the threat must be such that a reasonable person would apprehend harm. The answer is A (Statements 1, 2, and 4).